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About Martyn

Martyn Johnson is an author, metal detectorist and historian. He lives in the beautiful village of Wentworth in South Yorkshire. He was born in Darfield, some five-and-a-half miles north-east of Wentworth, the son of a coal miner. He left school at the age of fifteen and took up employment as a blacksmith. His work changed dramatically four years later when he joined the Sheffield City Police, where he served as a ‘beat bobby’ at Attercliffe in the east-end of Sheffield until 1969. A two year spell in the CID followed but Martyn found that he missed grassroots policing and returned to the beat for a further seven years. Martyn is a well-known metal detectorist and has appeared on many BBC Radio Sheffield programmes talking about his hobby. A long-time resident of Wentworth village, he assisted and advised Catherine Bailey when she was researching her bestselling book, Black Diamonds.

Martyn has gone on to publish 2 books of his own, What's tha up to? which reached the top 10 Sunday Times Best Sellers List, and What's tha up to nah? Martyn has completed his third book which will be out this summer.

Since the launch of Martyn's books he is regularly contacted by the media for advice and information on policing in the 1960's/70's regarding the authenticity of programmes.

Together with his wife Christine and due to the amount of interest from visitors to Wentworth looking for a souvenir he has published a book of local views and characters called the Wentworth Postcard book.

Martyn has recently resigned from Wentworth Cricket Club after being Chairman for many years but continues to have a great interest in Garstang Cricket Club, where his youngest son Paul is a keen member of the team.

Martyn is a born raconteur, local historian, author and has plenty of interesting stories to tell!